Life with an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout – A Chaotic, Romantic, Almost-BL Masterpiece
If you had told me a month ago I’d be obsessed with an isekai anime with a name longer than most tweets, I’d have laughed in your face. I don’t do isekai. I’m picky. I roll my eyes at titles like “I Was Reincarnated as a Vending Machine in a Dungeon Filled with Elves and My Taxes Are Due.” And yet… somehow, Life with an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout reeled me in—and I binged all 12 episodes in one day.
What happened to me??
I’ll be honest—I don’t even remember how I first came across it. Probably a meme or random clip in one of the anime groups I float around in on Facebook. But it was the premise that sold me: two male best friends get isekai’d into a fantasy world… and one of them gets turned into a gorgeous girl. Add in the romantic comedy genre tag, and my little BL-loving heart perked up.
“Wait… is this going to be BL?”
Spoiler: It’s not physically, but emotionally? Spiritually? Absolutely.
Older Characters, Funnier Comedy
One of the first things that struck me about the show was the age of the main characters. Hinata Tachibana and Tsukasa Jingūji are both in their 30s. That may not sound groundbreaking, but as an adult anime fan, it was so refreshing to watch a romantic comedy where the leads weren’t angsty 17-year-olds tripping over hormones.
Tachibana is the one who gets transformed into a jaw-droppingly beautiful woman—sparkles, bouncy hair, anime glow-up, the whole shebang. Jingūji, meanwhile, retains his tall, composed, painfully straight-laced demeanor. Except now he’s stuck adventuring with his best friend… who’s kind of hot… and people keep mistaking them for a couple.
And I mean… are they wrong?
Jingūji: The Stoic Himbo Magnet of My Heart
I fell hard for Tsukasa Jingūji. And yes, part of that is because his English VA is J. Michael Tatum (aka Kyoya from Ouran, Sebastian from Black Butler, Erwin from Attack on Titan—the man has range). That familiar, silky deadpan voice pulled me in immediately.
But even beyond the voice, Jingūji is just comedy gold. He’s the guy who’s trying so hard to be the responsible adult, but the universe keeps throwing chaos at him—and he just deadpans his way through it. His obliviousness to his own feelings for Tachibana is maddening and hilarious. The man has never once questioned why he can’t seem to settle down with a woman. He just… doesn’t get it.
Sir. You’re in love with your best friend. Please catch up to the plot.
Tachibana: Sparkly Disaster in a Dress
Tachibana is pure gremlin energy. Whiny? Yes. Over-the-top? Constantly. But underneath the drama, you get the sense that he’s honestly struggling. Imagine waking up one day not only in a fantasy world, but as the exact type of girl that would usually make you swoon. The series doesn’t dig too deeply into the gender stuff, but there are glimmers of something real beneath the comedy.
He’s adorable, chaotic, and his new “special skill” is basically being cute enough to make anyone fall in love with him. Which, of course, causes constant problems. Especially since he and Jingūji are already so close that everyone assumes they’re romantically involved.
And honestly? Everyone’s right. I ship it.
Shen: The Massage Mage with Bedroom Eyes
Let’s talk about Shen—not the third hero (we’ll get to him), but the ridiculously smooth operator.
Now THIS man. Shen is introduced when he sells an elf to a squid cult (normal things), but what makes him unforgettable is how he interacts with Jingūji. Shen drugs him. And you think, Oh no, is this about Tachibana? But nope—it’s because he’s attracted to Jingūji.
He literally whispers, “I could be helpful in the bedroom if you wanted.”
I had to pause the show during THAT episode. I was not okay.
Anyway, back to when he was drugging him… Turns out he just wanted to massage him. Yes, really. And later, Tachibana casually comments on how magical Shen’s hands are, making the whole scene even funnier. Shen adds a whole second wave of BL-coded comedy and honestly? King behavior. (Let’s not forget Tachibana is technically a dude under the surface).
Shen is one of the best supporting characters in the show—not just because he oozes BL energy, but because he genuinely adds to the absurd worldbuilding.
Schwarz von Liechtenstein Lohengramm: The Third Hero With Daddy Issues
Yes, that’s his actual name.
Schwarz is the third hero summoned to the fantasy world, and while he bursts onto the scene with dramatic speeches and heroic poses, the show quickly reveals that he’s actually… a high school senior. Meanwhile, Tachibana and Jingūji are both in their 30s.
Ah. That explains the energy.
He randomly starts calling Jingūji “Father,” latches onto him like a loyal golden retriever, and bumbles his way into their party with big dumb energy. He’s dramatic, delusional, and lowkey adorable in that “bless your heart” kind of way. Total comic relief, but a lovable one.
Tilolilo Lilili Lou: Please Get Her Off the Screen
Enter Tilolilo Lilili Lou, the high elf with a name as exhausting as her personality. She is, without question, the most annoying character in the show—and that’s saying something in a world with love spells, magical massages, and a squid cult.
She first shows up to fight Tachibana and Jingūji, and loses when Jingūji throws a rock and cuts her hair. That becomes her villain origin story. For the rest of the season, she follows them around on a vengeance tour because of a haircut. Not joking.
There’s a scene where she and Tachibana are both captured and being considered for sacrifice. Rather than panic, they start arguing—while tied up—about who’s more beautiful. A background character literally says, “You realize you’re arguing to be the one who gets sacrificed, right?”
You can’t make this up.
She even holds not one but two village-wide votes to determine who’s prettier—knowing that the winner would be sacrificed. Her vanity is boundless, and while her antics are meant to be funny, they quickly wear thin.
The Romance Vibes: Almost There, All the Time
If you’re here for BL, you’re going to feel teased. The show sets up this incredible dynamic between Jingūji and Tachibana, flirts with it constantly, and never quite seals the deal.
But it’s not fanservice for the sake of it. Their relationship feels real. Jingūji can’t explain his feelings, Tachibana starts seeing him differently, and the emotional tension bubbles under the surface the whole time. And with characters like Shen around to keep the queer energy strong, the whole thing feels like a romantic comedy that’s just one scene away from being canon.
They could’ve kissed. I would’ve screamed. But they didn’t. I still screamed.
Comedy, Style, and Pacing
The animation is clean and expressive, and the real highlight is the character acting. Reactions, over-the-top facial expressions, perfect comedic timing—it’s all there.
Every episode has at least one “what the hell just happened?” moment, and most of them land hilariously. The writing strikes a rare balance between absurdist humor, emotional honesty, and parody.
The pacing? Dangerously bingeable. There’s no filler, and each episode adds either plot, character development, or a new ridiculous situation that you have to see through.
Ending & Emotional Closure
Here’s where things get complicated.
The show sets up this big Demon King arc at the start… and then kind of forgets about it. You never meet him. The “hero’s journey” feels more like a hero’s detour.
But emotionally? It lands. The show gives Tachibana and Jingūji just enough growth to feel satisfying. Tachibana starts coming into his own, and Jingūji starts very slowly confronting the possibility that he might just love his best friend—no matter what form he’s in.
Still no kiss. Still no confession. Still worth it.
Final Verdict
If you love BL, romantic comedies, or just want a chaotic fantasy series that doesn’t take itself too seriously—you need to watch this. It’s sharp, silly, weirdly emotional, and way smarter than it has any right to be.
I won’t lie—it’s not perfect. Some characters are annoying. The main plot barely gets resolved. And yes, the slow-burn romantic tension might drive you up the wall.
But I binged it in one day. I laughed harder than I have at any anime in a long time. And even if a second season never comes (though it absolutely should), I don’t regret a second of the ride.
Now give me season two, you cowards.
As of April 2025, you can watch both the subbed and dubbed version of this on Crunchyroll!
